Enhanced self-organizing network switching matrix

ABSTRACT

Automated control of simulcast ratios based on network traffic data provides efficient network capacity management. In one aspect, a remote switching matrix can be utilized at a venue to couple remote transceiver units (RTUs) with different antenna ports, for example, of one or more multi-beam antennas deployed at the venue. A simulcast ratio that can be utilized to support traffic demand at the venue can be determined and implemented by creating dynamic connections between the RTUs and the antenna ports. In one aspect, the simulcast ratio can be modified based on changes in network traffic at the venue that are monitored via self-organizing network devices. In addition, one or more antenna beams of the multi-beam antennas are remotely steered or rotated based on a location of the traffic.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject disclosure relates to wireless communications, e.g., to anenhanced self-organizing network switching matrix.

BACKGROUND

With explosive growth in utilization of communication devices, mobiletelecommunications carriers are seeing an exponential increase innetwork traffic. Temporary high traffic demand in certain locations(e.g., convention centers, sports venues such as stadiums or arenas,hotel ballrooms, and other similar areas) can exponentially increasenetwork traffic and cause voice and data congestion on event days orduring other high traffic periods. To meet these demands of highertraffic and reduce congestion, communication service providers candeploy additional macro sites or a distributed antenna systems at thelocations; however, these are dedicated fixed network assets atadditional cost requiring the transport of equipment and installation.Often times, this fixed equipment will sit idle or underutilized if anevent is not occurring or if it is outside the location's high trafficwindow. For example, deployed network assets at a football stadium cansit idle during the long offseason or during the week when a game is notbeing played.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system that facilitates on-demand capacityallocation in a communication network.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example system that aggregates base transceiverstation (BTS) hotels for automated network capacity management.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example system that controls simulcast ratiosassociated with remote transceiver units (RTUs) to facilitate efficientnetwork capacity management.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example system that comprises a remote switchingmatrix for automated network capacity management.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example system that controls physical networktopology to facilitate efficient network capacity management.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example system that comprises a host switchingmatrix for automated network capacity management.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example diagram that depicts sectorization anddesectorization of a venue by utilization of a remote switching matrixand/or a host switching matrix.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example diagram that depicts remote azimuthsteering implemented by a remote switching matrix and/or a hostswitching matrix.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example system that facilitates automating one ormore features in accordance with the subject embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example method that facilitates efficient networkcapacity management based on control of simulcast ratios.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example method for determining sectorizationand/or desectorization of a network area based on real-time (or nearreal time) network load.

FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram of a computer operable to executethe disclosed communication architecture.

FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an exemplary computingenvironment in accordance with the subject innovation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more embodiments are now described with reference to thedrawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to likeelements throughout. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the various embodiments. It may be evident,however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without thesespecific details, e.g., without applying to any particular networkedenvironment or standard. In other instances, well-known structures anddevices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitatedescribing the embodiments in additional detail.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “module,” “system,”“interface,” “node,” “platform,” “matrix,” or the like are generallyintended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, acombination of hardware and software, software, or software in executionor an entity related to an operational machine with one or more specificfunctionalities. For example, a component may be, but is not limited tobeing, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, anexecutable, a thread of execution, computer-executable instruction(s), aprogram, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an applicationrunning on a controller and the controller can be a component. One ormore components may reside within a process and/or thread of executionand a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributedbetween two or more computers. As another example, an interface caninclude input/output (I/O) components as well as associated processor,application, and/or API components.

Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a method,apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or anycombination thereof to control a computer to implement one or moreaspects of the disclosed subject matter. An article of manufacture canencompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readabledevice or computer-readable storage/communications media. For example,computer readable storage media can include but are not limited tomagnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips. . . ), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk(DVD) . . . ), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick,key drive . . . ). Of course, those skilled in the art will recognizemany modifications can be made to this configuration without departingfrom the scope or spirit of the various embodiments.

In addition, the word “example” or “exemplary” is used herein to meanserving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or designdescribed herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use ofthe word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concretefashion. As used in this application, the term “or” is intended to meanan inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unlessspecified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” isintended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, ifX employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs Aor B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition,the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appendedclaims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unlessspecified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singularform.

Moreover, terms like “user equipment,” “communication device,” “mobiledevice,” “mobile terminal,” and similar terminology, refer to a wired orwireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a wired or wirelesscommunication service to receive or convey data, control, voice, video,sound, gaming, or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. Theforegoing terms are utilized interchangeably in the subjectspecification and related drawings. Data and signaling streams can bepacketized or frame-based flows. Further, the terms “user,”“subscriber,” “consumer,” and the like are employed interchangeablythroughout the subject specification, unless context warrants particulardistinction(s) among the terms. It should be appreciated that such termscan refer to human entities or automated components supported throughartificial intelligence (e.g., a capacity to make inference based oncomplex mathematical formalisms), which can provide simulated vision,sound recognition and so forth.

Aspects or features of the disclosed subject matter can be exploited insubstantially any wired or wireless communication technology; e.g.,Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), WiFi, WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), General Packet RadioService (GPRS), Enhanced GPRS, Third Generation Partnership Project(3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), Third Generation Partnership Project 2(3GPP2) Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA),Zigbee, or another IEEE 802.XX technology. Additionally, substantiallyall aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be exploited in legacy(e.g., wireline) telecommunication technologies.

Locations, such as, but not limited to, stadiums, convention centers,hotels, arenas, etc. can experience very high network traffic demandduring a specific time period, for example, when an event is scheduled.To meet the demands of higher traffic and reduce congestion, additionalmacro sites or a distributed antenna systems can be deployed at thelocations. However, these dedicated fixed network assets substantiallyincrease installation and/or operating costs. Further, the networkassets can be underutilized during times of lower demand. In addition,the same network assets may congest during very high traffic periodsbecause the deployed fixed network assets are insufficient to handle theamount of traffic generated when events are taking place. For example,some football stadiums can hold over a hundred thousand fans, where anynumber of those fans may wish to access network services at any one timeusing a smart phone, a tablet, etc. While a system can be designed forthe high capacity demand and to overprovision to handle the peak trafficperiods or to accept that congestion will occur during peak trafficperiods, either way at corresponding increased cost related to the overprovisioning.

Various embodiments of a self-organizing network (SON) switching matrixare provided, e.g., that allow a communications service provider to poolnetwork resources at a centralized location and schedule networkresources out to different locations (e.g., stadiums, hotel ballrooms,and/or other high traffic areas) based on traffic conditions. Byallocating network assets on-demand, capacity can be scaled at acentralized location or multiple centralized locations to match thechanging traffic demands. Using remotely located remote transceiverunits (RTUs), the SON switching matrix can monitor traffic, and canadjust which RTUs are active or dormant, by quickly splitting andde-splitting network resources to bring in additional capacity into anarea when needed, and when traffic demand subsides, reallocating thoseresources elsewhere in the network. In one aspect, sectorization and/ordesectorization of an area (e.g., venue space) can be controlled basedon real time (or near real time) traffic demand data. By automatingsector splitting and de-splitting, additional capacity can be providedinto an area when needed and, when traffic demand subsides, reallocatedelsewhere in the network where traffic demand is rising. It is notedthat the SON switching matrix facilitates automated capacity managementproviding just in time network dimensioning. In one example, the SONswitching matrix can comprise a host and/or one or more remote switchingmatrices, as explained in detail infra.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, there illustrated is an example system100 that facilitates on-demand capacity allocation in a communicationnetwork, according to one or more aspects of the disclosed subjectmatter. System 100 can be coupled to and/or part of a self-organizingnetwork (SON). In one aspect, system 100 facilitates automated networkcapacity management by sectorizing and desectorizing a venue space orother network area through the use of active and dormant remotetransceiver units (RTUs) 102 ₁-102 _(N) (wherein N is most any positiveinteger) deployed at different locations 104 ₁-104 _(N) and acentralized pool of base transceiver station (BTS) equipment 106deployed in a BTS hotel 108.

The BTS hotel 108 can include a host switching matrix 110 that couplesthe set of BTSs 106 with one or more of the RTUs 102 ₁-102 _(N), forexample, by employing an optic fiber connection. It is noted that otherways to communicatively couple disparately located BTS assets and RTUscan also be used. As an example, the host switching matrix 110 cancomprise an optical switch that can create dynamic optical connectionsbetween the BTSs 106 and one or more of the RTUs 102 ₁-102 _(N). In oneaspect, the host switching matrix 110 can control, in real time, whichof the RTUs 102 ₁-102 _(N) are to be activated, e.g., can receive aradio simulcast from a BTS 106 of the BTS hotel 108, and which of theRTUs 102 ₁-102 _(N) are to be deactivated (or left in a dormant state),e.g., not sent a radio simulcast from a BTS 106 of the BTS hotel 108.Moreover, the control is based on real-time (or near real-time) trafficdemand, for example, determined by the SON device(s) 112. For example,prior to an event at a stadium, the host switching matrix 110 canactivate little to none of the RTUs at both the parking lot area and thestadium area. Before the event, the host switching matrix 110 candetermine increased network demand (e.g., based on data received fromthe SON device(s) 112) in the parking lot, and accordingly, increase theamount of active RTUs in the parking lot area. Similarly, as peopleenter the stadium area, and demand for network services increases withinthe stadium area (e.g., determined based on data received from the SONdevice(s) 112), additional RTUs deployed at the stadium can be madeactive. When activity in the stadium area, or the parking lot area,change independent of one another, a ratio of active to dormant remotetransceiver units can be adjusted to meet demand. It is noted that thehost switching matrix 110 allows the communication provider to deploytheir assets more efficiently by pooling and scheduling out theirresources, from the BTS hotel 108, rather than having network assets sitidle for days or even months at a time. In addition, by pooling assetsat a centralized location, costs can be saved, for example, on realestate ground leases needed to house network equipment.

Further, once the RTUs at a specific location (e.g., RTUs 102 ₁ atlocation 1 104 ₁) have been activated, a remote switching matrix (e.g.,114 ₁) can be utilized to automate the simulcast ratios to essentiallybisector or sector split venue sectors based on traffic demands (e.g.,determined based on data received from the SON device(s) 112).Accordingly, the number of sector carriers, downlink (DL) codes and/orDL power can be adjusted. In one aspect, the remote switching matrices114 ₁-114 _(N) can include an radio frequency (RF) switch that can beutilized to create dynamic RF connections between the RTUs 102 ₁-102_(N) and one or more multi-beam antenna ports (not shown). The remoteswitching matrices 114 ₁-114 _(N) can control the simulcast ratios sothat the coverage footprints of the multi-beam antennas remain the sameduring the sectorization and/or desectorization process. It is notedthat the remote switching matrices 114 ₁-114 _(N) allow thecommunication provider to deploy a fewer number of RTUs and/or antennasat the different locations, thereby saving substantial costs.

Additionally or optionally, the host switching matrix 110 and/or theremote switching matrices 114 ₁-114 _(N) can facilitate remote azimuthsteering based on traffic demand data, for example, received from theSON device(s) 112. Moreover, multiple beams of the antennas that arecoupled to the RTUs 102 ₁-102 _(N) can be remotely steered and/orrotated based on instructions received from the host switching matrix110 and/or the remote switching matrices 114 ₁-114 _(N). As an example,an antenna beams can be steered through a coverage area of a multi-beamantenna footprint based on where the traffic is the greatest (e.g., incontrast to covering the entire footprint at once).

It is noted that although FIG. 1 depicts the same number of RTUs 102₁-102 _(N) deployed at each location 104 ₁-104 _(N), the same ordifferent number of RTUs 102 ₁-102 _(N) can be deployed at differentvenues. Moreover, the number of RTUs 102 ₁-102 _(N) deployed at aspecific venue can be determined based on capacity/traffic demands(e.g., observed over time). Further, although depicted as residingwithin the BTS hotel 108, the host switching matrix 110 and/or the SONdevice(s) 112 can reside anywhere in the communication network and belocally (and/or remotely) coupled to the BTS hotel 108.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there illustrated is an example system 200 thataggregates BTS hotels for management of network capacity, in accordancewith an aspect of the subject disclosure. It is noted that the BTShotels 108 ₁-108 ₄ are substantially similar to BTS hotel 108 and caninclude functionality as more fully described herein, for example, asdescribed above with regard to BTS hotel 108. Further, RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₄and remote switching matrices 114 ₁-114 ₄ can include functionality asmore fully described herein, for example, as described above with regardto RTUs 102 ₁-102 _(N) and remote switching matrices 114 ₁-114 _(N)respectively. Furthermore, it is noted that FIG. 2 depicts only oneexample network architecture and the subject specification is notlimited to four BTS hotels coupled to six venues respectively. Moreover,more or less BTS hotels can be deployed within a communication networkand each BTS hotel can be coupled to more or less venues.

In one aspect, the BTS hotels 108 ₁-108 ₄ can be coupled (e.g., viarespective host switching matrices) to various venues, such as, but notlimited to, stadiums and arenas 104 ₁, large urban macro sites 104 ₂,hotels 104 ₃, university campuses 104 ₄, convention centers 104 ₅,and/or festival fairgrounds 104 ₆. However, a single BTS hotel or asingle centralized location does not have to serve the entirety ofnetwork assets in a region (e.g., as depicted in system 100). In FIG. 2,four separate BTS hotels are deployed within the network to pool assetstogether. In this scenario, for example, if BTS hotel 1 (108 ₁) does nothave the capacity to serve all active remote transceiver units atstadiums and arenas and urban macro site, BTS assets from BTS hotel 2(108 ₂) and/or BTS hotel 4 (108 ₄) can be shared by BTS hotel 1 (108 ₁).In another example, BTS hotel 3 (108 ₃) can be deployed outside theshared pool of resources of BTS hotels 1, 2, and 4 (108 ₁, 108 ₂, and108 ₄) and dedicate its resources to a singular location (e.g. hotels)and/or multiple locations (not shown). It is noted that many differentpossible configurations are available for communication serviceproviders to both maximize the efficient use of network resources whileproviding a positive experience to user equipment (UE) accessing thosenetwork resources and that the subject specification is not limited tothe architectures illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there illustrated is an example system 300 thatcontrols simulcast ratios of RTUs to facilitate efficient networkcapacity management, according to an aspect of the subject disclosure.It is noted that the BTS hotel 108, the host switching matrix 110 andthe remote switching matrix 114 can include functionality as more fullydescribed herein, for example, as described above with regard to systems100 and 200. Further, RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₅ are substantially similar to RTUs102 ₁-102 _(N) and can include functionality as more fully describedherein with regard to the RTUs 102 ₁-102 _(N).

According to one aspect, the host switching matrix 110 can select andactivate one or more of the dormant RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₅ based on trafficdata, for example, received from a SON device. Moreover, the hostswitching matrix 110 can connect the selected RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₅ to BTSequipment deployed at the BTS hotel 108. In one aspect, the RTUs 302₁-302 ₅ can receive digital communication signals from the BTSequipment, for example, via an optical link. The RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₅ canconvert the digital communication signal to RF signals that can betransmitted to a multi-beam antenna 304. Moreover, the RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₅can upconvert and/or amplify the digital communication signals on thedownlink path (e.g., from antenna to user equipment). Further, the RTUs302 ₁-302 ₅ can receive RF signals from the multi-beam antenna 304 onthe uplink path (e.g., from user equipment to antenna) and convert theRF signals to a digital signal that can be transmitted back to the BTSequipment via the optical link. As an example, the RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₅ caninclude a low noise amplifier (LNA) that processes the RF signals andfacilitates down-conversion and digitization of RF signals.

In one embodiment, the remote switching matrix 114 can be employed tocreate dynamic RF connections between RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₅ and the antennaports 306 ₁-306 ₅ of the multi-beam antenna 304. Moreover, the dynamicRF connections are created in a manner such that the simulcast ratio ismodified to provide optimal capacity. For example, the remote switchingmatrix 114 can automatically adjust the simulcast ratio of the RTUs 302₁-302 ₅ from n:1 to 1:1 back to n:1 (wherein “n” is an integer greaterthan 1) by changing the RF connections between the remote radio headsand the antenna ports in any simulcast combination. Moreover, the remoteswitching matrix 114 can change the physical network topology byessentially converting an omni site into a three sectored site, andprogressively to a six sectored site, twelve sectored site, twenty foursectored sites, etc. and back again to an omni site based on trafficdemand (e.g., determined based on data received from SON device(s)) byautomatically adjusting the simulcast ratio of the RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₅. Forexample, as the traffic demands increase, the number of sectors isincreased and as the traffic demands decrease, the number of sectors isdecreased. The RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₅ are deployed throughout the location(e.g., venue) to provide complete network coverage in n:1 simulcastratio or omni coverage. According to an aspect, the remote switchingmatrix 114 does not change the coverage but modifies the simulcast ratioof the RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₅ from n:1 to 1:1 back to n:1. As an example, asimulcast ratio of 1:1 corresponds to the maximum sectorization of thevenue space, which will vary based on the total number of RTUs 302 ₁-302₅ deployed at the location or area of coverage.

Accordingly, the remote switching matrix 114 allows sectorization anddesectorization to occur at the remote-end using fewer number of RTUs(e.g., RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₅) and a fewer number of antennas (e.g., 304)while preserving the RF coverage footprint at the venue or area ofcoverage. As an example, the remote switching matrix 114 can adjust thesimulcast ratio of outdoor distributed antenna system (oDAS) deploymentson university campuses based on traffic load or time of day to supportfootball games and/or concerts in common areas during the day and thenshift the capacity over to the student housing areas in the evenings. Inanother example, the remote switching matrix 114 can adjust thesimulcast ratio of indoor distributed antenna system (iDAS) deploymentsin large convention center ballrooms for events where unusual crowdingoccurs or to automatically allocate additional resources to support highdata volume activities and demonstrations through automated sectorsplitting. In one aspect, the remote switching matrix 114 can haveremote-end SON functionality and/or connect back to the host-end SON atthe central office (e.g., BTS hotel) or cell site to receive datarelated to traffic demand at the location.

Although only five RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₅ and one multi-beam antenna 304 aredepicted in FIG. 3, it can be noted that one or more RTUs and/orantennas can be deployed at the remote locations. Further, although amulti-beam antenna 304 is depicted in FIG. 3, it can be noted that thesubject specification is not limited to utilization of a multi-beamantenna and that one or more single-beam, twin-beam, or multi-beamantennas can be deployed at the remote location. In addition, thesubject specification is not limited to a 1×5 multi-beam antenna andmulti-beam antennas having most any configuration, such as but notlimited to 1×5, 1×9, and/or 2×9 multi-beam antennas can be utilized.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there illustrated is an example system 400 thatcomprises a remote switching matrix for automated network capacitymanagement, according to one or more aspects of the disclosed subjectmatter. It can be noted that the remote switching matrix 114 can includefunctionality as more fully described herein, for example, as describedabove with regard to systems 100-300. Further, the set of RTUs 302 andthe set of antenna ports 306 are substantially similar to and includefunctionality as more fully described herein with respect to RTUs 302₁-302 ₅ and antenna ports 306 ₁-306 ₅ respectively. In one aspect, theremote switching matrix 114 can control the simulcast ratio of the RTUs302 ₁-302 ₅ to essentially bisector or sector split venue sectors basedon real-time (or near real-time) traffic demands. The additional sectorscan provide more DL codes and DL power in high traffic areas.

According to an embodiment, the remote switching matrix 114 can includea communications component 402, a switching component 404, a trafficmonitoring component 406, and/or a data store 410. The communicationscomponent 402 can exchange communications data with a set of RTUs 302.In an aspect, the communication data can be sent to/received fromcentrally located/shared BTS equipment via the RTUs 302. As an example,the communications data includes a radio simulcast. It is noted that theradio simulcast can provide a network signal and route network resourcesnecessary for a remote transceiver unit to provide communicationservices to a user equipment. Further, the communications component 402can exchange the communications data with a set of antenna via a set ofantenna ports to facilitate communication with one or more UE within thecoverage area.

A traffic monitoring component 406 can determine real-time (orsubstantially real-time) network traffic and/or traffic demands at anarea in which at the antennas are deployed. In one aspect, the networktraffic and/or traffic demand data can be received from a host switchingmatrix (e.g., host switching matrix 110) and/or from one or more devicesof a SON (e.g., SON devices 112) that monitor and/or predict changes innetwork traffic within the area. In another aspect, the trafficmonitoring component 406 can also determine network traffic based onmonitoring the exchange of communications data with the RTUs 302 and/orthe antenna ports 306. The determined and/or received network trafficdata 408 can be stored within the data store 410 that resides within (oris coupled to) the remote switching matrix 114. It is noted that thedata store 410 can include volatile memory(s) or nonvolatile memory(s),or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory(s). Examples ofsuitable types of volatile and nonvolatile memory are described belowwith reference to FIG. 12. The memory (e.g., data stores, databases) ofthe subject systems and methods is intended to comprise, without beinglimited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

Further, the remote switching matrix 114 can comprise a switchingcomponent 404 that can dynamically create RF connections to couple theRTUs 302 with corresponding the antenna ports 306 in a specificsimulcast combination (e.g., to support the traffic/capacity demands atthe location). As an example, the simulcast combination can bedetermined by the switching component 404 based on an analysis of thenetwork traffic data 408 and/or switching policies (e.g., time or day,date, event schedule, etc.). In another example, the simulcastcombination can be determined by the host switching matrix (e.g., hostswitching matrix 110) and instructions to implement the specificsimulcast combination can be received (e.g., by the traffic monitoringcomponent 406) from the host switching matrix. Moreover, the switchingcomponent 404 can automatically adjust the simulcast ratio of the RTUs302 from n:1 to 1:1 back to n:1 by making different RF connectionsbetween the RTUs 302 and the antenna ports 306 in the specifiedsimulcast combination. For example, as the traffic demands at thelocation increase, the switching component 404 can increasesectorization of the antennas, for example, by increasing the number ofports 306 to which the RTUs 302 are coupled and accordingly, convertingan omni site into a three sectored site, and progressively to a sixsectored site, twelve sectored site, twenty four sectored site, etc.(and vice versa).

Additionally (or optionally), the remote switching matrix 114 cancomprise steering component 414 that facilitates beam steering of amulti-beam antenna such that antenna beams are steered or rotatedthrough the coverage area of the multi-beam antenna footprint based onwhere the traffic is located (or traffic demand is the greatest). Thelocation of the traffic can be received by the traffic monitoringcomponent 406, for example, from the host switching matrix (e.g., hostswitching matrix 110) and/or the SON devices (e.g., SON devices 112).Additionally or alternatively, the host switching matrix can determinethe beam steering parameters and instruct the steering component 414 toimplement beam steering based on the determined beam steeringparameters.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example system 500 that controls physical networktopology to facilitate efficient network capacity management, accordingto an aspect of the subject disclosure. It can be noted that the BTShotel 108 and the host switching matrix 110 can include functionality asmore fully described herein, for example, as described above with regardto systems 100-400. Further, the RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₈ are substantiallysimilar to and include functionality as more fully described herein withrespect to RTUs 302.

In this example system, the host switching matrix 110 can control (e.g.,based on network traffic data) the simulcast ratios of the RTUs 302₁-302 ₈, without utilization of a remote switching matrix (e.g., remoteswitching matrix 114 as depicted in FIG. 3). Moreover, in this exampleembodiment, the RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₈ can be hard-cabled directly torespective antenna ports 508 ₁-508 ₈ of different antennas, for example,a single-beam antenna 502, a twin-beam antenna 504, and/or multi-beamantenna 506. In one aspect, the host switching matrix 110 can change thesimulcast ratio at the remote-end by of turning off one antenna andturning on another antenna, for example, by turning on and off thecorresponding RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₈ from the host-end. This arrangementrequires the use of more RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₈ and more antennas (502, 504,and 506) at the remote-end as compared to those utilized with a remoteswitching matrix (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 3). During idle networkperiods, the RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₈ are dormant. As the network traffic at thelocation increases, the host switching matrix 110 can facilitate thesectorization/desectorization process by activating specific RTUs 302₁-302 ₈. For example, during low traffic periods, RTU 302 ₁ can beactivated to utilize the single-beam antenna 502. In another example,during very high traffic periods, RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₈ can be activated toutilize the multi-beam antenna 506. It is noted that an activated RTU iscapable of sending and receiving data with a user equipment (e.g., viathe corresponding antenna) and a dormant RTU is incapable of sending andreceiving data with a user equipment until changed to active status.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example system 600 that comprises a host switchingmatrix for automated capacity management, according to an aspect of thesubject specification. As an example, the host switching matrix 110 canreside within or be coupled to a BTS hotel. It can be noted that theBTSs 106, host switching matrix 110, remote switching matrices 114 ₁-114₂, and RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂ can include functionality as more fullydescribed herein, for example, as described above with regard to systems100-500. In one aspect, the RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂ can be dynamicallyconnected to different antenna ports via the remote switching matrices114 ₁-114 ₂. Alternatively, the remote switching matrices 114 ₁-114 ₂can be optional (as depicted by the dotted line) and the RTUs 102 ₁-102₂ can be hard wired connected to antenna ports of different antennas.

According to an embodiment, the host switching matrix 110 can include ahost communications component 602, a host switching component 604, ahost traffic monitoring component 606, and/or a host data store 610. Thehost communications component 602 can exchange communications data witha set of BTSs 106. As an example, the communications data includes aradio simulcast. It is noted that the radio simulcast can provide anetwork signal and route network resources necessary for a RTU (e.g.,RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂) to provide communication services to a user equipment.The host communications component 602 can further exchange thecommunications data with a set of activated RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂ tofacilitate communication with one or more user equipment within thelocations (104 ₁-104 ₂).

A host traffic monitoring component 606 can determine real-time (orsubstantially real-time) network traffic and/or traffic demands at thelocations (104 ₁-104 ₂). In one aspect, the network traffic and/ortraffic demand data can be received from one or more devices of a SON(e.g., SON devices 112) that monitor and/or predict changes networktraffic at the locations (104 ₁-104 ₂). In another example, the hosttraffic monitoring component 606 can also determine network activitybased on monitoring the exchange of communications data with the BTSs106 and/or the RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂. The determined and/or received networktraffic data 608 can be stored within the host data store 610 thatresides within (or is coupled to) the host switching matrix 110.Further, the host switching matrix 110 can comprise a host switchingcomponent 604 that can dynamically activate or deactivate one or more ofthe RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂ based on an analysis of the network traffic data608 and/or policy data 612 (e.g., time or day, date, event schedule,etc.). In one aspect, the simulcast combination for the RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂can also be determined by the host switching component 604 andinstructions to implement the specific simulcast combination can betransmitted (e.g., by the host switching component 604) to the remoteswitching matrices 114 ₁-114 ₂ associated with the selected/activatedRTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂. In this example scenario, wherein remote switchingmatrices 114 ₁-114 ₂ are utilized, the host switching component 604 cantransfer simulcast ratio data to the remote switching matrices 114 ₁-114₂, which in turn can adjust the simulcast ratio of the RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂from n:1 to 1:1 back to n:1 by making dynamic RF connections between theRTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂ and the antenna ports in the specified simulcastcombination. For example, as the traffic demands at the locationincrease, the host switching component 604 can instruct the remoteswitching matrices 114 ₁-114 ₂ to increase sectorization of theantennas, for example, by converting an omni site into a three sectoredsite, and progressively to a six sectored site, twelve sectored site,twenty four sectored site, etc. (and vice versa).

Alternatively, in another example scenario wherein remote switchingmatrices 114 ₁-114 ₂ are not utilized, the host switching component 604can determine antennas to which the RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂ are coupled to(e.g., via hard connections), for example based on configuration data616 stored in the data store (or received from the RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂).Further, the host switching component 604 can determine which antenna isto be activated based on the network traffic data 608 and/or policy data612 and accordingly activate the corresponding RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂.Additionally (or optionally), the host switching matrix 110 can comprisea host steering component 614 that facilitates beam steering of themulti-beam antennas (e.g., coupled to the RTUs 102 ₁-102 ₂) such thatantenna beams of the multi-beam antennas are steered or rotated throughthe coverage area of the multi-beam antennas' based on where the trafficis located (or traffic demand is the greatest). The location of thetraffic can be received by the host traffic monitoring component 606,for example, from the SON devices (e.g., SON devices 112).

FIG. 7 illustrates an example diagram 700 that depicts sectorization anddesectorization of a venue in accordance with the subject embodiments.In this example scenario, sectorization and desectorization of antennasdeployed at a stadium and a parking lot of the stadium is illustrated.As an example, during an event (e.g., football game) stadiums can holdcrowds of up to 95,000 people—the size of a small city. However, afterthe event, the stadiums remain empty most of year (e.g., duringoffseason). Further, during the pre-game large crowds can gather aroundthe stadium, for example, in the parking lots for tailgating. The crowdthen moves into the stadium to watch the game, for example, at kickoff,and again the crowd moves back in the parking lot as the stadium emptiesafter the game has ended. To avoid and/or impede a situation whereinnetwork at a stadium starts to congest because the venue site has runout of sector carriers, DL codes, and/or DL power, sectorization anddesectorization of RTUs deployed at the venue site can be controlled byemploying a remote switching matrix 114 (and/or a host switching matrix110).

As illustrated at 702, several days/hours before the event (e.g., duringoffseason, on non-event days, etc.), both the parking lot and thestadium can be desectorized (e.g., since network traffic demand is belowa defined threshold). In one example, the host switching matrix 110 candeactivate the RTUs deployed at the parking lot and the stadium, forexample, based on determining that there is no traffic (or minimaltraffic) at the both the venues. At 704, just before the event, ascrowds start entering the parking lot and/or the stadium, the hostswitching matrix 110 can activate one or more of the RTUs. Further, theremote switching matrix 114 (and/or the host switching matrix 110) canadjust the sectorization of the activated RTUs and modify simulcastratios based on the observed (and/or expected) traffic at the venues.For example, as shown at 704, RTUs at both the parking lots and thestadium can be resectorized (e.g., since network traffic demand iswithin a first defined range).

During the event, the crowd moves into the stadium and typically, theparking lot is empty. Accordingly, at 706, the host switching matrix 110can deactivate one or more of the RTUs at the parking lot and the remoteswitching matrix 114 (and/or the host switching matrix 110) can adjustthe simulcast ratios of the active RTUs based on the observed (and/orexpected) increase in traffic at the stadium (e.g., network trafficdemand is within a second defined range). For example, the remoteswitching matrix 114 can increase the number of sectors by adjusting thesimulcast ratio and thus provide more DL codes and/or DL power tosupport the high traffic demands in the stadium. At 708, just after theevent, the crowd starts moving out of the stadium and back into theparking lot. During this time, the host switching matrix 110 canactivate one or more of the RTUs at the parking lot and the remoteswitching matrix 114 (and/or the host switching matrix 110) can adjustthe simulcast ratios of the active RTUs at the parking lot and thestadium based on the observed (and/or expected) decrease in traffic atthe stadium (e.g., network traffic demand is within a third definedrange). Additionally or alternatively, timing data (e.g., kickoff time,concert duration, etc.) associated with the event can be utilized by theremote switching matrix 114 and/or the host switching matrix 110 tofacilitate sectorization and/or desectorization of the RTUs.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example diagram 800 that depicts remote azimuthsteering in accordance with the subject embodiments. As discussed indetail above, the remote switching matrix 114 (e.g., via the steeringcomponent 414) and/or the host switching matrix 110 (e.g., via the hoststeering component 614) can facilitate beam steering of a multi-beamantenna deployed at a venue. In one aspect, the remote switching matrix114 and/or the host switching matrix 110 can remotely steer the antennabeams based on location of the traffic (e.g., received from SONdevices). For example, the antenna beam can be steered to cover alocation, which has the highest concentration of UE and/or trafficdemand (e.g., a specific room of a convention center where an event isbeing held, concession stands at a stadium during half time, etc.). Inone aspect, based on an analysis of the network traffic data, the remoteswitching matrix 114 (and/or the host switching matrix 110) can instructa multi-beam antenna, coupled to an activated RTU, to change a directionof the main lobe of a radiation pattern, for example, by switching theantenna elements and/or by changing the relative phases of the RFsignals driving the antenna elements. Accordingly, the antenna beams canbe focused on a portion of the coverage area of the multi-beam antennathat has the highest amount of traffic instead of covering the entirecoverage area.

As an example, one or more antenna beams can be remotely steered/rotatedby the remote switching matrix 114 (and/or the host switching matrix110). Referring back to FIG. 8, 802-806 illustrates steering of twobeams, while 808-816 illustrates steering of a single-beam of themulti-beam antenna towards an area that has the highest concentration ofuser equipment and/or user density.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there illustrated is an example system 900 thatemploys one or more artificial intelligence (AI) components 902, whichfacilitate automating one or more features in accordance with thesubject embodiments. It can be appreciated that the remote switchingmatrix 114, the set of RTUs 302, the set of antenna ports 306, thecommunications component 402, the switching component 404, the trafficmonitoring component 406, the data store 410, and the steering component414 can include respective functionality, as more fully describedherein, for example, with regard to systems 100-600.

In an example embodiment, system 900 (e.g., in connection withautomatically determining simulcast ratios, parameters forsectorization/desectorization and/or beam steering, etc.) can employvarious AI-based schemes for carrying out various aspects thereof. Forexample, a process for determining an optimal time/schedule to changesimulcast ratios, steering of a beam of a multi-beam antenna, etc. canbe facilitated via an automatic classifier system implemented by AIcomponent 902. A classifier can be a function that maps an inputattribute vector, x=(x1, x2, x3, x4, xn), to a confidence that the inputbelongs to a class, that is, f(x)=confidence(class). Such classificationcan employ a probabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis (e.g.,factoring into the analysis utilities and costs) to prognose or infer anaction that a user desires to be automatically performed. In the case ofcommunication systems, for example, attributes can be informationreceived from SON devices, UEs, and/or macro access points, and theclasses can be categories or areas of interest (e.g., levels ofpriorities). A support vector machine (SVM) is an example of aclassifier that can be employed. The SVM operates by finding ahypersurface in the space of possible inputs, which the hypersurfaceattempts to split the triggering criteria from the non-triggeringevents. Intuitively, this makes the classification correct for testingdata that is near, but not identical to training data. Other directedand undirected model classification approaches include, e.g., naïveBayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neural networks, fuzzy logicmodels, and probabilistic classification models providing differentpatterns of independence can be employed. Classification as used hereincan also be inclusive of statistical regression that is utilized todevelop models of priority.

As will be readily appreciated from the subject specification, anexample embodiment can employ classifiers that are explicitly trained(e.g., via a generic training data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g.,via observing traffic patterns, UE behavior, user/operator preferences,historical information, receiving extrinsic information, networkload/congestion trends, type of UE, etc.). For example, SVMs can beconfigured via a learning or training phase within a classifierconstructor and feature selection module. Thus, the classifier(s) of AIcomponent 902 can be used to automatically learn and perform a number offunctions, including but not limited to determining according to apredetermined criteria when and/or what simulcast ratios are to beimplemented, when and/or where one or more beams of a multi-beam antennaare to be steered, etc. The criteria can include, but is not limited to,historical patterns and/or trends, user preferences, service providerpreferences and/or policies, location of the RTUs, current time, networkload, and the like.

FIGS. 10-11 illustrate flow diagrams and/or methods in accordance withthe disclosed subject matter. For simplicity of explanation, the flowdiagrams and/or methods are depicted and described as a series of acts.It is to be understood and appreciated that the various embodiments arenot limited by the acts illustrated and/or by the order of acts, forexample acts can occur in various orders and/or concurrently, and withother acts not presented and described herein. Furthermore, not allillustrated acts may be required to implement the flow diagrams and/ormethods in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. In addition,those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that the methodscould alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated statesvia a state diagram or events. Additionally, it should be furtherappreciated that the methods disclosed hereinafter and throughout thisspecification are capable of being stored on an article of manufactureto facilitate transporting and transferring such methods to computers.The term article of manufacture, as used herein, is intended toencompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readabledevice or computer-readable storage/communications media.

Referring now to FIG. 10, illustrated is an example method 1000 thatfacilitates efficient network capacity management based on control ofsimulcast ratios, according to an aspect of the subject disclosure. Asan example, method 1000 can be implemented by a remote switching matrixthat can be deployed at a venue and can be utilized to couple RTUs withdifferent antenna ports, for example of one or more multi-beam antennas.At 1002, traffic data can be received, for example, from one or moredevices of a SON. As an example, the traffic data can represent thenumber of user equipment at the venue, the network traffic/load and/ortraffic demand at a macro access point deployed at the venue, etc. At1004, the traffic data can be analyzed. For example, a simulcast ratioto support the traffic demand can be determined based on the analysis.Further, at 1006, dynamic connections can be made between the RTUs andthe antenna ports to achieve and/or implement the determined simulcastratio. In one aspect, if the traffic at the venue is determined to haveincreased, the simulcast ratio can be increased from n:1 to 1:1. Inother words, as the traffic at the venue increases, the number ofantenna sectors can be increased (and vice versa).

FIG. 11 illustrates an example method 1100 for determining sectorizationand/or desectorization a network area based on real-time (or near realtime) network load, according to an aspect of the subject disclosure. Asan example, method 1100 can be implemented by a host switching matrixdeployed at (and/or coupled to) a BTS hotel. In one aspect, the hostswitching matrix can couple BTS equipment of the BTS hotel to sets ofRTUs deployed at different locations. A set of the RTUs can behard-wired to respective antenna ports of different antennas (e.g., asingle-beam antenna, a twin-beam antenna, a multi-beam antenna, etc.).At 1102, traffic data can be received, for example, from one or moredevices of a SON. As an example, the traffic data can represent thenumber of user equipment at the location, the network traffic/loadand/or traffic demand at a macro access point deployed at the location,etc. Further, at 1104, the traffic data can be analyzed. For example, asimulcast ratio that supports the traffic demand can be determined basedon the analysis. At 1106, based on the analysis, a set of the antennas,deployed at the location, that can provide the determined simulcastratio can be identified. For example, it can be determined whether asingle-beam antenna, a twin-beam antenna, or a multi-beam antenna is tobe utilized to provide the determined simulcast ratio. At 1108, RTUsthat are hard-wired to the selected antennas can be determined andactivated. As network traffic changes, the set of RTUs that areactivated/deactivated can be adjusted to provide different simulcastratios that support the changes in the network traffic.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there is illustrated a block diagram of acomputer 1202 operable to execute the disclosed communicationarchitecture. In order to provide additional context for various aspectsof the disclosed subject matter, FIG. 12 and the following discussionare intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitablecomputing environment 1200 in which the various aspects of thespecification can be implemented. While the specification has beendescribed above in the general context of computer-executableinstructions that can run on one or more computers, those skilled in theart will recognize that the specification also can be implemented incombination with other program modules and/or as a combination ofhardware and software.

Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

The illustrated aspects of the specification can also be practiced indistributed computing environments where certain tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can belocated in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically include a variety of media, which caninclude computer-readable storage media and/or communications media,which two terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and includes both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implementedin connection with any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structureddata, or unstructured data. Computer-readable storage media can include,but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memorytechnology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical diskstorage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or other tangible and/or non-transitorymedia which can be used to store desired information. Computer-readablestorage media can be accessed by one or more local or remote computingdevices, e.g., via access requests, queries or other data retrievalprotocols, for a variety of operations with respect to the informationstored by the medium.

Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructureddata in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information deliveryor transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signals refersto a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changedin such a manner as to encode information in one or more signals. By wayof example, and not limitation, communication media include wired media,such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless mediasuch as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

With reference again to FIG. 12, the example environment 1200 forimplementing various aspects of the specification includes a computer1202, the computer 1202 including a processing unit 1204, a systemmemory 1206 and a system bus 1208. As an example, the component(s),server(s), equipment, system(s), and/or device(s) (e.g., RTUs 102 ₁-102_(N), RTUs 302 ₁-302 ₈, RTUs 302, BTS equipment 106, BTS hotel 108, BTShotels 108 ₁-108 ₄, host switching matrix 110, SON device(s) 112, remoteswitching matrix 114, remote switching matrices 114 ₁-114 _(N),multi-beam antenna 304, communications component 402, switchingcomponent 404, traffic monitoring component 406, data store 410,steering component 414, single-beam antenna 502, twin-beam antenna 504,multi-beam antenna 506, host communications component 602, hostswitching component 604, host traffic monitoring component 606, hoststeering component 614, host data store 610, AI component 902, etc.)disclosed herein with respect to system 100-600 and 900 can each includeat least a portion of the computer 1202. The system bus 1208 couplessystem components including, but not limited to, the system memory 1206to the processing unit 1204. The processing unit 1204 can be any ofvarious commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors andother multi-processor architectures can also be employed as theprocessing unit 1204.

The system bus 1208 can be any of several types of bus structure thatcan further interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 1206includes read-only memory (ROM) 1210 and random access memory (RAM)1212. A basic input/output system (BIOS) is stored in a non-volatilememory 1210 such as ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basicroutines that help to transfer information between elements within thecomputer 1202, such as during startup. The RAM 1212 can also include ahigh-speed RAM such as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 1202 further includes an internal hard disk drive (HDD)1214, which internal hard disk drive 1214 can also be configured forexternal use in a suitable chassis (not shown), a magnetic floppy diskdrive (FDD) 1216, (e.g., to read from or write to a removable diskette1218) and an optical disk drive 1220, (e.g., reading a CD-ROM disk 1222or, to read from or write to other high capacity optical media such asthe DVD). The hard disk drive 1214, magnetic disk drive 1216 and opticaldisk drive 1220 can be connected to the system bus 1208 by a hard diskdrive interface 1224, a magnetic disk drive interface 1226 and anoptical drive interface 1228, respectively. The interface 1224 forexternal drive implementations includes at least one or both ofUniversal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE 1394 interface technologies. Otherexternal drive connection technologies are within contemplation of thesubject disclosure.

The drives and their associated computer-readable storage media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 1202, the drives andstorage media accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digitalformat. Although the description of computer-readable storage mediaabove refers to a HDD, a removable magnetic diskette, and a removableoptical media such as a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that other types of storage media which are readableby a computer, such as zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flash memorycards, cartridges, and the like, can also be used in the exampleoperating environment, and further, that any such storage media cancontain computer-executable instructions for performing the methods ofthe specification.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 1212,including an operating system 1230, one or more application programs1232, other program modules 1234 and program data 1236. All or portionsof the operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 1212. It is appreciated that the specification can beimplemented with various commercially available operating systems orcombinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 1202 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 1238 and/or apointing device, such as a mouse 1240 or a touchscreen or touchpad (notillustrated, but which may be integrated into a UE in some embodiments).These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit1204 through an input device interface 1242 that is coupled to thesystem bus 1208, but can be connected by other interfaces, such as aparallel port, an IEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a USB port, aninfrared (IR) interface, etc. A monitor 1244 or other type of displaydevice is also connected to the system bus 1208 via an interface, suchas a video adapter 1246.

The computer 1202 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 1248. The remotecomputer(s) 1248 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentappliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallyincludes many or all of the elements described relative to the computer1202, although, for purposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device1250 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted includewired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 1252 and/orlarger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 1254. Such LAN and WANnetworking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, andfacilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all ofwhich can connect to a global communications network, e.g., theInternet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 1202 isconnected to the local network 1252 through a wired and/or wirelesscommunication network interface or adapter 1256. The adapter 1256 canfacilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN 1252, which canalso include a wireless access point disposed thereon for communicatingwith the wireless adapter 1256.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 1202 can includea modem 1258, or is connected to a communications server on the WAN1254, or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN1254, such as by way of the Internet. The modem 1258, which can beinternal or external and a wired or wireless device, is connected to thesystem bus 1208 via the serial port interface 1242. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 1202, orportions thereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device1250. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown areexample and other means of establishing a communications link betweenthe computers can be used.

The computer 1202 is operable to communicate with any wireless devicesor entities operatively disposed in wireless communication, e.g.,desktop and/or portable computer, server, communications satellite, etc.This includes at least WiFi and Bluetooth™ wireless technologies. Thus,the communication can be a predefined structure as with a conventionalnetwork or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

WiFi, or Wireless Fidelity, allows connection to the Internet from acouch at home, a bed in a hotel room, or a conference room at work,without wires. WiFi is a wireless technology similar to that used in acell phone that enables such devices, e.g., computers, to send andreceive data indoors and out; anywhere within the range of a basestation. WiFi networks use radio technologies called IEEE 802.11(a, b,g, n, etc.) to provide secure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. AWiFi network can be used to connect computers to each other, to theInternet, and to wired networks (which use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). WiFinetworks operate in the unlicensed 5 GHz radio band at an 54 Mbps(802.11a) data rate, and/or a 2.4 GHz radio band at an 11 Mbps(802.11b), an 54 Mbps (802.11g) data rate, or up to an 600 Mbps(802.11n) data rate for example, or with products that contain bothbands (dual band), so the networks can provide real-world performancesimilar to the basic 10BaseT wired Ethernet networks used in manyoffices.

As employed in the subject specification, the term “processor” can referto substantially any computing processing unit or device comprising, butnot limited to comprising, single-core processors; single-processorswith software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors;multi-core processors with software multithread execution capability;multi-core processors with hardware multithread technology; parallelplatforms; and parallel platforms with distributed shared memory.Additionally, a processor can refer to an integrated circuit, anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signalprocessor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmablelogic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), adiscrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.Processors can exploit nano-scale architectures such as, but not limitedto, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, inorder to optimize space usage or enhance performance of user equipment.A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computingprocessing units.

In the subject specification, terms such as “data store,” data storage,”“database,” “cache,” and substantially any other information storagecomponent relevant to operation and functionality of a component, referto “memory components,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or componentscomprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memorycomponents, or computer-readable storage media, described herein can beeither volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include bothvolatile and nonvolatile memory. By way of illustration, and notlimitation, nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM),programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory caninclude random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory.By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in manyforms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronousDRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM(ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methodsherein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising,these and any other suitable types of memory.

Referring now to FIG. 13, there is illustrated a schematic block diagramof a computing environment 1300 in accordance with the subjectspecification. The system 1300 includes one or more client(s) 1302. Theclient(s) 1302 can be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads,processes, computing devices).

The system 1300 also includes one or more server(s) 1304. The server(s)1304 can also be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes,computing devices). The servers 1304 can house threads to performtransformations by employing the specification, for example. Onepossible communication between a client 1302 and a server 1304 can be inthe form of a data packet adapted to be transmitted between two or morecomputer processes. The data packet may include a cookie and/orassociated contextual information, for example. The system 1300 includesa communication framework 1306 (e.g., a global communication networksuch as the Internet) that can be employed to facilitate communicationsbetween the client(s) 1302 and the server(s) 1304.

Communications can be facilitated via a wired (including optical fiber)and/or wireless technology. The client(s) 1302 are operatively connectedto one or more client data store(s) 1308 that can be employed to storeinformation local to the client(s) 1302 (e.g., cookie(s) and/orassociated contextual information). Similarly, the server(s) 1304 areoperatively connected to one or more server data store(s) 1310 that canbe employed to store information local to the servers 1304.

What has been described above includes examples of the presentspecification. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methods for purposes ofdescribing the present specification, but one of ordinary skill in theart may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of thepresent specification are possible. Accordingly, the presentspecification is intended to embrace all such alterations, modificationsand variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used ineither the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended tobe inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

1. A system, comprising: a memory to store executable instructions; anda processor, coupled to the memory, that facilitates execution of theexecutable instructions to perform operations, comprising: determiningtraffic data representing a change in traffic in an area served by anetwork device, based on the traffic data, modifying simulcast ratiodata associated with remote transceiver units that are determined to bedeployed within the area, wherein the remote transceiver units arecoupled to a base station server via a host switching matrix device andwherein the remote transceiver units are wired to respective antennaports of antennas deployed within the area, and based on the simulcastratio data, facilitating a switching of a first connection between thebase station server with a first remote transceiver unit of the remotetransceiver units to a second connection between the base station serverwith a second remote transceiver unit of the remote transceiver units,wherein the first connection is an optical connection.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: based on the simulcastratio data, facilitating a coupling of a set of remote transceiver unitsto a set of the respective antenna ports via a remote switching matrixdevice, wherein the remote switching matrix device is utilized to switcha third connection between a third remote transceiver unit of the remotetransceiver units with a first antenna port of the respective antennaports to a fourth connection between the third remote transceiver unitwith a second antenna port of the respective antenna ports.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the coupling comprises a radio frequencycoupling.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations furthercomprise: based on the simulcast ratio data, facilitating a switching onof a first set of remote transceiver units and a switching off of asecond set of remote transceiver units via the host switching matrixdevice.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the modifying comprisesmodifying operating modes of a set of the remote transceiver units tofacilitate utilization of a set of the antennas that is selected basedon the traffic data.
 6. The system of claim 4, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: based on the simulcast ratio data, modifying a valueof downlink power provided via the antennas.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein the determining the traffic data comprises receiving the trafficfrom a self-organizing network device.
 8. The system of claim 1, whereinthe modifying the simulcast ratio data comprises increasingsectorization of the area in response to determining, based on thetraffic data, that the traffic in the area has increased.
 9. The systemof claim 1, wherein the modifying the simulcast ratio data comprisesdecreasing sectorization of the area in response to determining, basedon the traffic data, that the traffic in the area has decreased.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the modifying the simulcast ratio datacomprises modifying the simulcast ratio data based on policy dataindicative of a defined switching policy.
 11. The system of claim 1,wherein the operations further comprise: based on the traffic data,facilitating steering of a beam of a multi-beam antenna of the antennasthat is coupled to a set of remote transceiver units.
 12. A method,comprising: receiving, by a system comprising a processor, traffic dataindicative of a demand for a network service in an area served by anetwork device; based on the traffic data, adjusting, by the system,simulcast ratio data associated with remote transceiver units that aredetermined to be deployed in the area, wherein the remote transceiverunits are coupled to a base station server via an optical switch andwherein the remote transceiver units are wired to an antenna port of anantenna deployed within the area; and based on the simulcast ratio data,facilitating, by the system, a switching of a first connection betweenthe base station server with a first remote transceiver unit of theremote transceiver units to a second connection between the base stationserver with a second remote transceiver unit of the remote transceiverunits, wherein the first connection is an optical connection.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the antenna is a multi-beam antenna, a setof remote transceiver units are coupled to a first antenna port of themulti-beam antenna, and the adjusting comprises re-coupling the subsetof the remote transceiver units to a second antenna port of themulti-beam antenna that is selected based on the traffic data.
 14. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the adjusting comprises controllingoperating modes of the remote transceiver units to facilitateutilization of the antenna based on the traffic data.
 15. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the receiving the traffic data comprises receiving thetraffic data from a self-organizing network device.
 16. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the antenna is a multi-beam antenna and the methodfurther comprises: based on the traffic data, rotating, by the system, abeam of the multi-beam antenna.
 17. A computer readable storage devicecomprising executable instructions that, in response to execution, causea system comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:receiving traffic data indicative of network traffic demand associatedwith an area served by network devices; and based on an analysis of thetraffic data, determining simulcast ratio data indicative of a simulcastratio associated with a remote transceiver units that are determined tobe wired to respective antenna ports of antennas deployed in the area,wherein the remote transceiver units are coupled to base stationequipment via an optical switch that facilitates a switching of a firstoptical connection between the base station server with a first remotetransceiver unit of the remote transceiver units to a second opticalconnection between the base station server with a second remotetransceiver unit of the remote transceiver units, and wherein thesimulcast ratio is determined to support the network traffic demand. 18.The computer readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: facilitating a coupling of a set of remote transceiverunits to the respective antenna ports, wherein the coupling isdetermined based on the simulcast ratio data.
 19. The computer readablestorage device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:based on the simulcast ratio data, modifying a number of downlink codesprovided via the antennas.
 20. The computer readable storage device ofclaim 17, wherein the operations further comprise: based on thesimulcast ratio data, modifying downlink power provided via theantennas.